CIRCLE WITH A DOT

@paranormal_distribution@fosstodon.org That’s a massive move, congrats on cutting the cord with Google. Which provider did you pick? I'm still tied to the Gmail for now, so I’m curious what tipped the scales for you.

@Rick_d_card@mastodon.social
The reality is that many users opt for Big Tech due to a gradual loss of digital agency; their choices are often shaped by ecosystem lock-in and social pressure. While I agree that a circle of enthusiasts can build amazing things, we face a massive uphill battle. Competing with giants is nearly impossible—they either absorb innovative ideas through acquisition or leverage their scale to overshadow independent projects.

Regarding state-backed initiatives, it’s a complex issue. In some regions, we see a shift towards "enforced adoption" rather than organic growth. When a platform like the Max messenger is rolled out, it often relies on administrative resources—migrating school chats or essential public services—rather than winning users over with superior features.

I’m a proponent of technical merit. I truly appreciate domestic innovations like the SBP (Fast Payment System) or streamlined digital government services—they are technically impressive and genuinely convenient. However, when the strategy shifts from "outperforming the competition" to "restricting alternatives," it creates a friction-filled environment for the tech community.

The idea that blocking a service can fundamentally change public discourse overlooks the digital literacy of the modern user. For every technical barrier, a more resilient workaround is inevitably developed. It’s an endless cycle that emphasizes the need for a dialogue based on innovation and trust, rather than just restriction.

The Browser Manifesto: Why Your "Smart" Browser is a Security Nightmare

As a system analyst, I’m obsessed with the tools that mediate my contact with the web. After auditing dozens of setups, here is my no-nonsense report for 2026:

1. The Undisputed King: Firefox + Betterfox
My main driver is, and remains, Firefox with a custom Betterfox config. It’s the only setup that gives me absolute control. No other browser allows this level of "under-the-hood" hardening.

2. The Worthy Successor: Zen Browser
On the second place, and my favorite "modern" take, is Zen. It's the only fork I actually trust. Why? Because its default preferences are already built on Betterfox logic. It's the aesthetics of the future with the privacy of a hardened Gecko engine.

3. The "Clean" Chromium: Helium
I avoid Brave due to the crypto-bloat. Helium is the "Chrome we actually deserved." Stripped-down, fast, and telemetry-free. It’s my choice for the 5% of the web that still refuses to work properly on Gecko.

4. The "Arc" Red Flag
I uninstalled Arc the second it demanded an email just to launch. A browser asking for a permanent ID before showing a single pixel is a data-harvesting machine in disguise. It's not a tool; it's a leash.

5. The AI Garbage Fire & Cognitive Decay
"AI-integrated" browsers are a disaster. Using AI to summarize a video after watching it is a tool. Asking an AI to "write my emails" or "manage my life" is a crutch.

- If you delegate basic digital agency to an algorithm, you aren't just giving away data—you are letting your own critical thinking atrophy.
- If you can't perform simple tasks yourself, you're just a passenger in your own OS.

The Verdict: Hardened Firefox is the only way to keep "root access" to your mind. Everything else is either a compromise or a trap.

What’s your setup? Are you still on the "Pure Firefox" hill, or have you found a fork that actually respects your sovereignty?

#Browsers #Privacy #Firefox #Betterfox #ZenBrowser #Helium #Infosec #CyberSecurity #DeGoogle #SelfHosted

The "But Why?" of Digital Sovereignty

Every time I spend my weekend researching obscure forks and implementing complex local workflows, someone asks: "But why? The mainstream tools are so much easier."

In 2026, the path of deep research and practical implementation feels exactly like this. It might look like madness to the "colony," but I’d rather head for the mountains than stay in the comfortable enclosure of Big Tech.

What was your latest "But why?" rabbit hole?
#SelfHosted #Privacy #DigitalSovereignty #Research #Homelab #ButWhy #TechLife

From Obsidian to SiYuan: Why Your Homelab Needs a Database, Not Just Notes

As a system analyst, I’ve always been obsessed with structuring chaos. For years, Obsidian was my go-to "Second Brain." It’s powerful, but as my Homelab expanded, I realized I didn't just need notes — I needed a living documentation engine that I could access via web from any device in my network.

I’ve tested the whole spectrum: Docmost, Trillium, and AFFiNE.

- AFFiNE is beautiful (Notion + Miro vibes), but its "infinite canvas" often leads to visual chaos. It's great for sketching a network topology, but terrible when you need to find a specific CLI command via Ctrl+F.
- SiYuan changed the game for me. It’s currently at the heart of my local stack.

Why SiYuan is the "Final Boss" of Self-Hosted Note-taking:

1. Block-Level Granularity (JSON Power): 🧩
Unlike standard Markdown, SiYuan assigns a unique ID to every single paragraph and list item. This allows for transclusion—you can pull a specific VPN setup instruction into five different guides, and when you update the original, it updates everywhere.
2. The SQL Killer-Feature:
This is where it turns into a professional CMDB (Configuration Management Database). I don't manually track my 50+ Docker containers in a table. I just add custom attributes to my service notes:

custom-ip: 192.168.1.10
custom-port: 8080

Then, I use a native SQL query on my Dashboard to automatically generate a real-time "Service Matrix." If I change a port in a note, the master table updates itself. No more IP conflicts.

3. Performance & Sovereignty: ️

- Resource Efficiency: While AFFiNE is a bit of a resource hog, SiYuan is incredibly light, idling at just 31MB in my Docker container.
- No Vendor-Lock: Even though it uses .sy (JSON) files for its advanced logic, the export to Markdown is flawless and can be automated via Kernel API.

The Verdict:
If you have 3-4 services, stick to Obsidian. But if you’re running a Proxmox cluster with complex networking, you need a tool that speaks SQL.

Don't let your documentation become legacy hardware. Give it a database-driven brain.

What about you? Are you a "pure Markdown" purist, or have you embraced the power of block-based databases like SiYuan or Notion? How do you track your Homelab inventory?

#SelfHosted #Homelab #SiYuan #Obsidian #KnowledgeManagement #SQL #SysAdmin #Documentation #TechStack #Privacy #OpenSource

@thomas@friendica.tomforge.de Thanks for the heads-up! I’ve seen OpenCloud mentioned a few times. Adding it to my "to-test" backlog for when I finally have some breathing room. Right now, Cloudreve is doing the heavy lifting, but I’m always down to benchmark a leaner alternative.

@lily@social.whytheyfight.com That’s a fair point. To me, this is the absolute baseline that should be integrated into every OS.

Taping over cameras on a smartphone isn't exactly a solution, though it’s still somewhat acceptable for a laptop. Even with the hardware indicators on my MacBook Pro, having that granular software-level control on GrapheneOS just feels much more robust. It's about having that peace of mind knowing the hardware is actually dormant when you're not using it.

The Command Center: Performance & Precision ️

As a system analyst, my environment is split between raw power for computation and fluid efficiency for development. After years of fine-tuning, here is the current state of my workstation.

The Powerhouse (PC)

- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D — the undisputed king.
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti.
- RAM: 32GB DDR5.
- Input: Luminkey Magger 68 HE Pro. Magnetic switches are a revelation — zero accidental presses even with a low actuation point, and surprisingly good for typing.
- Audio: Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue. Switched to IEMs for PC use because the sound positioning in games is incredible. For music, they don't beat the AirPods, but for everything else, they are solid. Powered by GoXLR Mini.

The Productivity Hub (Mac)

- Device: MacBook Pro M4 Pro (24GB RAM).
- Input: Rainy 75 + MX Master 3S. The Rainy 75 is here for one reason: the typing experience. The sound is just addictive for coding and documentation.
- Wait until you see the modded NuPhy Node 75 I have coming in — that's a story for a separate post. ️

The Triple Monitor Grid

- Main: Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 (27").
- Vertical: Samsung Odyssey G5 (27") — for Discord, documentation, and terminal windows.
- Top: MSI MAG 342CQR E2 (34" Ultrawide) — my "everything else" dashboard.

Currently diving into Go on the Mac while keeping my Misskey feed active on the OLED. It’s a setup built for flow, where every tool has its purpose.

---

What’s your setup philosophy? Do you prefer a single massive screen or a multi-monitor layout like mine? And for the keyboard nerds — magnetic or mechanical for your daily driver?

Show off your workstations in the replies! ​​

#Setup #Workstation #SystemAnalyst #9950X3D #SamsungOLED #MechanicalKeyboard #MacBookM4Pro #HomeOffice #Tech #IEM

@patricos@mastodon.social Spot on. I think there are two main issues here:

1. Most people lack the technical expertise to even basic-level manage their own data, and Big Tech knows this all too well — they’re basically milking users like cows.
2. People are terrified of losing functionality. For someone with our background, a slight drop in UX is non-critical, but for a "normie" who only knows how to press two buttons, it’s a total dealbreaker.

The Algorithmic Cage: Why Your "Choices" Aren't Yours Anymore 🧠

Have you noticed how the modern web has slowly turned from a tool of discovery into a digital feed-lot?

We’ve become "Engagement Zombies." Most people don't browse the internet anymore; they just consume the output of a black-box algorithm designed by a corporation to maximize ad revenue.

The Cycle of Degradation:

1. Critical Thinking is Bypassed: Algorithms don't show you what’s true or useful; they show you what triggers a reaction. We've traded deep focus for a dopamine-driven scroll.
2. Data Commodification: Your behavior, your metadata, and even your "private" preferences are harvested, packaged, and sold to the highest bidder. You aren't the customer; you are the product being refined in real-time.
3. Reactive Consumption: People buy what the feed shows them and believe what the feed tells them. It’s a closed feedback loop where the user is just a biological component of a profit machine.

Why I’m here (and why I use my own stack):
Shifting to Self-Hosted services and moving my mobile environment to GrapheneOS is more than just a technical preference. It’s a deliberate decoupling from the surveillance capitalist machine. By using decentralized networks like Misskey, I’m practicing intellectual self-defense — deciding exactly what enters my cognitive space.

It’s about reclaiming "root access" over my own attention. I want my feed to be a result of my choices, not a calculation made by a billionaire’s AI.

Let’s be real: Are we still the masters of our tools, or have the tools started training us?

I want to hear from you:

- When was the last time you found something truly interesting without an algorithm suggesting it to you?
- Do you feel like you're in control of your digital life, or are you just "along for the ride"?
- Does the idea of "leaving the grid" (Big Tech) feel like freedom or like losing a limb?

#AttentionEconomy #DigitalFreedom #Fediverse #Privacy #CriticalThinking #Algorithms #BigTech #SelfHosted #Misskey

@tomjennings@tldr.nettime.org Exactly. It’s not about being a "hacker" or playing 007 . It’s simply an OS for people who want to decide for themselves what content to consume and when. No algorithms, no data harvesting — just pure freedom.

That’s a fair point regarding paranoia. If anonymity is the goal, you have to be paranoid; a single slip-up and your entire OpSec crumbles.

But for me, it’s not about anonymity—it’s about basic data hygiene. People often say, "I have nothing to hide, let them watch," but it's not about hiding, it's about data sovereignty. It’s like watching a complete stranger rummage through your laundry and saying, "It’s fine, I have nothing to hide in there."

@anthropy@mastodon.derg.nz Totally agree. Nextcloud is definitely a "Swiss Army knife". I actually used to rely on its Mail client and even hooked up my own OnlyOffice instance for web-based document editing.

There are plenty of alternatives out there, but I settled on Cloudreve for now. That said, I'm planning to benchmark other solutions once I have some downtime.

Cloudreve: Why I’m Not Going Back to Nextcloud ️

For a long time, Nextcloud was my go-to self-hosted storage. It’s a powerful "all-in-one" suite, but let’s be honest: it’s a heavy monolith. The performance was average at best, and the setup complexity was... well, "medium-rare."

Then I discovered Cloudreve, and it was a breath of fresh air for my home lab.

The Architecture:
Instead of local storage, I have a TrueNAS share mounted on the host OS, which is then passed through to the container. This setup allows me to keep my data management on the NAS while using Cloudreve as a fast, modern frontend.

The Cloudreve Advantage:

- Efficiency: Written in Go, it’s incredibly lightweight. It feels snappier than any PHP-based solution I've tried.
- Storage Flexibility: It handles my 4TB TrueNAS mount and S3 buckets flawlessly.
- Smart Sharing: The UI for sharing is superior — you can easily set passwords, download limits, or expiration timers.
- WebDAV: Works perfectly when you need to mount your cloud as a local network drive.

The "Lean" Infrastructure (Current Stats):
Running via docker-compose, and according to dockhand, the resource footprint is impressively low:

- Backend: ~60MB RAM
- Database: ~27MB RAM
- Redis: ~6MB RAM

If you don't need a massive suite with built-in office editors and calendars, Cloudreve is the perfect minimalist alternative. It’s fast, modern, and the free version is more than enough for a solid personal cloud.

#selfhosted #cloudreve #nextcloud #TrueNAS #homelab #devops #opensource #cloudstorage

Steam Deck: Healing my inner child (and my inner Linux nerd)

I bought my Steam Deck OLED (512GB) in late 2024, and it’s been a journey. From AAA titles to indie gems like Dave the Diver, this little Linux machine has been through it all.

Why Steam Deck?
As a Linux enthusiast, the choice was obvious. An Arch-based handheld? Yes, please. I couldn’t bring myself to buy a Windows-based console (Lenovo or Ally) — it just felt... wrong. Having my entire Steam library on a device that feels native to my workflow was the main selling point.

The Reality Check

- Performance: I even hooked it up to my 2K monitor just to see what it’s capable of. For a handheld, the results are solid.
- Customization: Decky was a Day 1 install. Even if I'm not swapping the SSD yet, I need that extra layer of control over the system.
- Playtime: Have I finished dozens of games? Honestly, no. Life and work as a system analyst take up most of my time.

But that’s not why I bought it. I still remember playing Forza Horizon 4 on a long train ride, and that feeling was priceless.

The "Why":
It reminds me of my school days with a PS Vita in my backpack. Buying the Deck was about satisfying that inner kid who missed handheld gaming. Even if it sits on the shelf sometimes, I don’t regret it. It’s there for when that "inner gamer" finally wakes up again.

What about you? Do you have a piece of tech that you bought more for "the vibe" or nostalgia rather than daily productivity? Or maybe you're also rocking a Deck — what's your must-have plugin?

#SteamDeck #OLED #SteamOS #LinuxGaming #Handheld #Nostalgia #ArchLinux

The Era of Autonomous AI Hackers is Here: Meet Shannon ️

As a systems analyst, I'm always tracking where AppSec is heading. We’re moving away from static scanners toward autonomous agents that "think" like red-teamers.

Shannon is a prime example. It’s an AI agent by Keygraph that doesn't just flag "potential issues" — it finds and executes actual exploits without any human hints.

Why it’s impressive:

- 96.15% Success Rate: Achieved on the hint-free XBOW Benchmark (white-box mode).
- Behavioral Analysis: It maps data flows and builds attack hypotheses instead of just matching patterns.
- Proof-of-Exploit: If it reports a bug, it provides a reproducible PoC. No more wasting time on false positives.
- Modern Stack: Handles complex OAuth flows, 2FA, and can be integrated into CI/CD via Docker.

My Take: For those of us in DevOps/Self-hosting, this is a double-edged sword. While it’s a godsend for daily automated pentesting, it also means the "script kiddies" of tomorrow will be replaced by AI agents that don't sleep and scale infinitely.

Source: github.com/KeygraphHQ/shannon
Via: LinuxKalii

#Infosec #AppSec #AI #CyberSecurity #OpenSource #RedTeaming

Filling the Void: My GrapheneOS App Stack & Workflow

When you first boot GrapheneOS, the silence is deafening. No bloat, no noise. To fill this gap, I’ve built a setup focused on Open Source and Self-hosting.

Coming from a lifetime of Apple products, I’m more than satisfied with how this experiment is turning out. Here is how I solved the "emptiness":

The Essentials

- App Management: Obtainium (tracking updates directly from source).
- Photos & Camera: Stock Pixel apps, but with network access revoked.
- Photo Backups: Immich. It syncs automatically to my home server whenever I'm on my local Wi-Fi.
- Keyboard: FUTO Keyboard. Surprisingly polished, easily matches the stock experience.

Communication & Data

- Mail: K-9 Mail (for Gmail) + native Proton & Tuta apps.
- Messengers: Matrix (Element X) and Telegram (via Nekogram fork).
- Passwords: Bitwarden connected to my self-hosted Vaultwarden instance.
- News: Read You (RSS)
- AI: Conduit for my OpenWebUI instance.

Productivity & Quality of Life

- Weather: Breezy Weather.
- Digital Wellbeing: I use StayFree.
- Sleep mode: Since GrapheneOS lacks a native "Sleep Mode," I've configured a DND schedule combined with a Color Correction shortcut to toggle grayscale mode manually.

The Verdict: As a long-time iOS user, I’m impressed. The system is snappy, stable, and most importantly — it’s mine.

#grapheneos #opensource #android #privacy #immich #vaultwarden #selfhosting

@cereal_cable@mastodon.social Could you elaborate a bit on what you mean by 'task switching'? Are you referring to the speed of opening the recent apps screen, how quickly apps load when you go back to them, or something else?

@tkk13909@fosstodon.org Probably that's the difference. My bank's app has NFC payment built-in, and the bank app is set as the default for payments in the system.

@tkk13909@fosstodon.org My Russian bank works perfectly fine, and NFC payments are also working. I didn't need to make any additional settings after installing the app.

Two weeks with GrapheneOS on Pixel 10: The "Clean Slate" Experience

I’ve been running GrapheneOS since February 3rd. After the initial setup, the first thing I noticed was a strange sense of "emptiness" — not because something was missing, but because the digital noise was gone.

Key Technical Takeaways:

- Hardware: Running this on a Pixel 10. The synergy between the hardware and a de-bloated OS is impressive.
- Compatibility: I opted for Sandboxed Google Play services. Everything works perfectly: banking apps are stable, and NFC payments function without a hitch.
- Performance: Noticeably better battery life and snappier UI response compared to stock.

The "Freedom" Factor
For me, GrapheneOS isn't just for the "anonymous" crowd; it's for enthusiasts who value agency. It’s about owning your device rather than the device owning you. Under the hood, you’re free from the hidden trackers that treat your behavior as a commodity.

Still testing, but so far, the sense of control is worth the switch.

#GrapheneOS #Pixel10 #Privacy #DeGoogle #OpenSource #SelfHosting